Fixing Windows XP Annoyances [Paperback]

David A. Karp (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 22, 2006

Windows XP is the most popular operating system on the planet--and the most annoying. From incomprehensible error messages to inexplicable crashes, from wonky wireless setups to just finding a file, Windows can make your computing life a nightmare. But thanks to Fixing Windows XP Annoyances, you can banish the bugs, speed up operations, and just make Windows work right.

Inspired by author David Karp's Windows XP Annoyances for Geeks, this all-new tome pulls together tips, tricks, insider workarounds, and fixes for PC novices and pros, in a handy, accessible Q&A format that lets you find the solutions in a flash. Fixing Windows XP Annoyances will not only increase your productivity but lower your blood pressure. Karp's new book covers:

• Setup and Hardware-Update Windows, reinstall Windows safely, speed up start up, resolve driver-hardware conflicts, and more.
• Windows Interface-Navigate quickly, fix screen resolution problems, customize the desktop, and switch applications more quickly.
• Windows Explorer-Force XP's file & folder management application to remember your view settings, save your default application choices, and get XP's Search tool to behave.
• Multimedia-Having a problem playing a video or burning a CD? Want to do more with your digital photo collection? We have the answers.
• Web and Email-Get a handle on spyware, spam and pop-ups; protect your privacy online; learn how to improve your online experience.
• Wireless and Home Networking-Connect all your PCs; share Internet connections; share files and drives securely; make your wireless network purr; share network printers; and more.

If you're having a problem, just look through the Table of Contents for the annoyance that most closely matches your problem, or feel free to start thumbing through the pages. You'll likely find a fix to a problem you didn't even know could be solved.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Microsoft Windows XP may be the latest in a popular family of operating systems, but that doesn't mean it's perfect. However, the designers of Windows XP have built enough flexibility into their product and provided users with a sufficiently large toolkit to overcome most shortcomings. In Windows XP Annoyances David Karp reveals his ideas about how to use Windows XP most effectively, for maximum fun and productivity and as little aggravation as possible. If you're comfortable working with Windows XP (or any of its recent predecessors) but find certain aspects of it, well, annoying, you'll find this book to your liking. Karp guides his readers through potentially risky procedures, such as editing the Registry and adjusting hardware device drivers, with skill and precision.

The author's tone is to the point and professional without being dry, without any of the phony, forced humor that appears in a lot of operating-system books. Though he inexplicably ignores the Windows XP Power Toys--some very handy utilities you can get from Microsoft's Web site--he does a great job of handling important questions. Case in point, the important issue of which files can be deleted to free up disk space, and which you shouldn't touch even though they look like pointless garbage. Similarly useful attention goes to the question of which background processes can be safely halted, and which are important. There's fine coverage of scripting with the Windows Script Host (WSH), as well. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to get the most out of Windows XP, even when it appears that the operating system is working against you. Troubleshooting techniques, hardware advice, Registry hacking, interface customization, and advanced networking subjects all find a place in this book. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"This book gives an insight into how frustrated end-users can get when what should be simple and intuitive is anything but. It's required reading for any PC developer, especially those living in Redmont..." PC Plus, June 2006

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 219 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (March 22, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596100531
• ISBN-13: 978-0596100537
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 7.8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #490,947 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

88 of 88 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Timesaver, January 10, 2003

By 

J. Erb (Florida) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Windows XP Annoyances (Paperback)

I've put off using Windows XP as long as possible. I recently decided that I wanted to use it for the screen shots of my next book since it's in color and the palettes in XP look so much nicer. But it's driving me nuts! I hate the cutesy icons and the dumbed down feel. I have a copy of Windows XP Annoyances sitting right on my desk to help me overcome the many things that really do annoy me. I don't have time to read a tome on using Windows XP, so when I run into something I want to do I just grab this book.

As most O'Reilly book, it's easy to use because of its great indexing. I can normally find a topic within seconds, read it, fix it, and get back to work. I've been able to get rid of most of the cutesy stuff but not all of it. This book doesn't just cover the easy things either, it gets into networking and internetworking issues, working with and repairing the registry, lots of troubleshooting topics and scripting and automation.

Every Windows XP owner should also own this book.

101 of 102 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars You cant go wrong with this book!, February 28, 2003

By 

James (Baltimore, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Windows XP Annoyances (Paperback)

Windows XP Annoyances is one of a kind. If you are looking for a guide through XP, this is not the book to get, but if you want a book that explains Windows XP in more depth then this is the right book for you. This book tells about the problems with Microsoft's new system and how to fix and customize it for your personal needs. It explains how to use the registry in detail to get past the "cute" animations for maximum performance and less annoyance. It does a great job and will tell you things that Microsoft books won't, like changing the startup logo. REMEMBER, this is not a manual! It is as the cover says "Windows XP Annoyances." Although it does teach some basics it will not tell how to use the OS, but rather techniques and tricks to make its performance and appeal better.

58 of 58 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book has everything, October 11, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Windows XP Annoyances (Paperback)

Just when I thought I had seen it all, XP Annoyances comes around. Just a few minutes with this book, and I had improved the performance of my network connection, fixed a nagging problem I was having with the Search tool, and found some registry settings I didn't even know existed. The hype around these books seems justified; highly recommended.